Compartmented bottle carriers



March 28, 1961 T. E. SHIELS, JR

COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Thomas E. Shie/gdr.

March 28, 1961 s s, JR 2,977,021

COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F24 I I2 60 I I 22 L l 1 I I i INVENTOR Thomas E. Shie/s, Jr.

ATTORNEYS March 28, 1961 T. E. SHIELS, JR

COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 Fig. /2 3 I INVENTOR ly 0 Thomas E. .Sh/e/s, Jn

ATTORNEYS March 28, 1961 T. E. SHIELS, JR

COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 INVENTOR 7/7 am as E. Shie/s, Jr.

ATTORNEYS March 28, 1961 sHlELs, JR 2,977,021

COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Thoma; E. Shie/s,Jr.

g /6 BY ATTORNEYS COMPARTMENTED BOTTLE CARRIERS Thomas E. Shiels, In, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Fleming & Sons, Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Aug. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 754,331

3 Claims. (Cl. 220115) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in compartmented bottle carriers having full depth partitions.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved compattmented bottle carrier, having full depth cross and center partitions forming relatively deep cells to prevent contact of the bottles confined therein, which is adapted to be constructed from a one-piece blank of relatively light-weight, inexpensive material, such as paperboard, with minimum waste by conventional mechanical folding and gluing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible bottle carrier, of the character described, wherein the center partition is of at least two-ply construction throughout its area, being continuous from end to end of the carrier, and has an integral four-ply handle whereby folding and gluing of the carrier is facilitated and said carrier has adequate strength to support relatively heavy bottles and to last during extended use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle carrier, of the character described, having center partition panels made integral with end .wall panels and secured in face-to-face relationship with cross partitions made integral with certain of the center panels and with each other, the. cross partitions on each side of the center partition being connected by an integral outer panel which is secured in face-to-face relationship to the adjacent side wall for reinforcing the medial portion thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle carrier, of the character described, wherein handle panels are made integral with the center partition panels and with each other so as .to reinforce the carrier and particularly the ends of its center partition and handle portions while maintaining substantially uniform thicknesses of said portions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle carrier, of the character described, wherein the cross partitions and their integral connecting panels may be of greater height than the end and side wall panels so as to project thereabove and forma center cell on each side of the center partition of greater depth than. the end cells, the reduced height of said end and side wall panels permitting certain of the handle panels to have depending extensions for overlapping and reinforcing said center partition.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to-the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

vFig. 1 is a plan-view of a one-piece blank cut and scored to form a bottle carrier constructed in accordance with the invention,

States Patent Q I 2,977,021 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 Fig. 2 is a planview showingthe first folding of the blank, a

Fig. 3 is a plan viewshowing the second folding of the blank,

Fig. 4 is a view showing the third folding of the blank, Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the final folding of the blank,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the erected bottle carrier,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the erected carrier,

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the erected carrier, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the carrier, partly erected, Fig. 10 is a plan view of the erected carrier, Fig. 11 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken 7 on the line 1111 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 1-3 is a plan view of a modified blank,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a modified bottle carrier constructed and erected from the blank of Fig.

or other suitable material which is cut and scored for folding and gluing to provide a bottle carrier embodying the features of the invention. The blank 10 is substantially rectangular, being of greater length than width, and includes a pair of opposedside wall panels 11 extending longitudinally of said blank in alined, spaced relationship. Coextensive end wall panels 29 and 21 are hinged to the opposite ends or lateral edges of each side wall panel 11 by transverse crease or score lines 12 and 13 so as to be disposed in transversely spaced pairs. Each end wall panel 20 at one end of each side wall panel has .a center partition member or panel 22, of greater height and Width, connected to its outer end or lateral edge by a transverse creaseor score line 24. An integral extension or handle panel 23, of reduced width, is carried by the inner margin of "each center partition panel 22 adjacent, the transverse crease line 24- and is hinged to the extension of the opposed center partition panel by a longitudinal-medial crease or score line 25. The length or longitudinal dimension of the side wall panels is approximately three times the Width or longitudinal dimension of the end wall panels.

A coextensive bottom wall member 30 is connected to the outer or lower margin of one of the side wall panels 11 by a longitudinal crease orscore line 14 and includes a pair of identical longitudinal bottom panels 31 and 32 which are hingedly connected by a longitudinal medialcrease or score line 33. A coextensive glue flap 34 is hinged by a longitudinal crease or score line 35 to the outer margin ofthe outer. or bottompanel 32. For coacting engagementwith locking lugs or hooks 26 formed on the outer margins of the center partition panels 22 at the outer extremities of the crease lines 24,

' longitudinal medial crease or score line 41. Due to its greater transverse dimension, each center partition panel 40 has a handle panel or portion 42at its inner margin for projecting above the side and end'wall panels as do the handle panels 23 of the panels 22 when the bottle 41. The inner ends or lateral edges of the handle panels. have an outer handle-member 44 hinged thereto by transverse crease or score lines 45 which are alined with and form continuations of the transverse crease lines 27. A pair of identical, outer handle panels 46 are provided by a longitudinal crease or score line 47 which extends.

medially of the handle member 44 and each handle panel has a hand-hold opening or slot 48 for registration with the complementary openings 43 of the handle panels 42 (Figs. 6, 7 and 11). Preferably, coextensive tabs 49 are hinged to the inner longitudinal margins of the openings 48. It is noted that the handle member 44 is of substantially the same length or longitudinal dimension as the side wall panels 11 or the combined length of the handle panels 23 and d2, being disposed between said side wall panels and the end Wall panels 21 and separated from the inner margins thereof by longitudinal slits or cut lines 15.

A trio of panels 50, 51 and 52, of substantially the same length and width as the end wall panels 29 and 21, are hinged to the outer end or lateral edge of each center partition panel 4% and to each other by transverse crease or score lines 53, 54 and 55. As will be apparent, the panels 541 and 52 are adapted to extend transversely of the erected carrier between the side wall and center partition panels 11, 22 and 49 to provide cross partitions for said carrier with their outer upright margins connected by the intermediate panel 51 (Figs. 6-12). Each of the latter panels is adapted to be secured to the inner surface of one of the side wall panels for reinforcing the medial portion thereof and may be referred to. as an outer panel. For connection with one of the center partition panels 40, a coextensive glue flap 56 is hinged to each panel 52 by a transverse crease or score line 57.

Since the handle panels 42 are of greater length or longitudinal dimension than the panels 49, their outer ends project beyond said panels 40 between the inner margins of the opposed cross partition panels 51 A short slit or cut line 58 extends longitudinally from the inner end of each transverse crease line 53 for separating the handle panels from the panels 50. As shown by the numeral 60 in Figs. l-4, glue or other suitable adhesive is applied in the usual manner to the side wall panels 11,

center partition panels 22 and 40, handle panels 42 and 46, and glue flaps 34 and 56.

The outer or reinforcing panels 51 and cross partition panels 52 are folded inwardly into overlying relation to the center partition and cross partition panels 44,} and on the transverse crease lines 54 for securing the glue flaps 56 to said panels 40 (Fig. 2) with the transverse crease lines 53 and 55 coinciding. The center partition panels 40 and their handle portions 42 are then folded inwardly on the transverse crease lines 27 and 45, Whereby said panels 40 overlie the side Wall and end wall panels 11 and 21 with the panels 52 and flaps 56 therebetween and said handle portions overlie the handle panels 46 with their openings 43 registering with the openings 48. As shown in Fig. 3, the cross partition panels 50 are folded inwardly with the panels 41 so as to overlie the side Wall panels with the reinforcing panels 52 therebetween and the transverse crease lines 13 and 57 coinciding. Due to the glue 60, the handle panels are secured together and the reinforcing panels are secured to the medial portions of the side wall panels.

For securing the center partition panels 22 and their handle extensions 23 to the panels. 40 and 46, respectively, the blank is folded on the transverse crease lines 12 whereby said panels 22 overlie the cross partition panels 50 and a portion of said panels 40. As shown in Fig. 4, the end wall panels overlie the sidewall panels and the transverse crease lines 24 and 54 coincide, while the handle extensions 23 overlie the handle panels 46 and form continuations of the handle panels 42. Assembly of the bottle carrier is completed by folding the blank upon the longitudinal crease lines 25 and 41, as well as the underlying crease line 47, and upon the longitudinal crease line 33 of the bottom wall member 30. This folding step secures the opposed center partition panels in face-to-face relationship and positions the opposed end walls 20 in contiguous relationship. The glue flap 34- overlies and is secured to the outer or lower margin of one of the side wall panels to dispose the bottom wall panels 31 and 32 in face-to-face relationship (Fig. 5).

The bottle carrier is adapted to be shipped and stored in this folded condition until erected for use. Due to the full length center and cross partitions, the bottlereceiving cells forming by said partitions in coaction with the end and side walls are relatively deep and prevent bottles supported therein from contacting one another throughout their lengths. The continuous center partition, which is provided by the overlapping panels 22 and 40, has a minimum two-ply thickness and its medial portion is reinforced along spaced upright lines by a fourply thickness formed by the overlapping of said partition panels and the securing of the glue flaps 56 to said panels 40. Since the four-ply thickness is adjacent the inner ends of the cross partition panels 50 and 52, it is manifest that said panels are reinforced. The handle of the carrier is of four-ply construction throughout its area due to the coaction of the handle panels 23, 4-2 and 46, and has smooth, finished surfaces with minimum raw or unfinished edges. In addition to connecting the cross partitions, the outer panels 51 underlie and reinforce the medial portions of the side Walls of the erected carrier and strengthen the connection between said partitions and walls. Since the handle extensions or panels 23 and 46 are made integral with the center partition panels, the handle is reinforced and the erected carrier has suflicient strength to support relatively heavy bottles and to withstand extensive use. The hooks 26 overlie each other and are engaged with the notch 36 to maintain the carrier in its erected condition as well as support the bottom wall member 30. The carrier is of efiicacious, inexpensive construction and is formed from a single blank with minimum waste of material, the blank being folded and glued on standard gluing machines of conventional size.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the end and side walls and handle of the bottle carrier may be modified so as to have a different appearance as well as reinforce the center partition. Due to the similarity of the carriers and their blanks, only the modifications need be described. The modified blank 70 includes similar side wall panels 71 hinged by transverse crease or score lines 72 and 73 to similar end wall panels and 81. A longitudinal crease or score line 74 connects one of the side wall panels 71 to the inner panel 31 of the bottom wall member 30. The transverse dimension of the end wall panels 80 and 81 is reduced whereby said panels are of less height than the panels 20 and 21 and cross partition and reinforcing panels 50, 51 and 52 so as to terminate below the latter. Although the medial one-third portions of the side wall panels are of the same height as the cross partition and reinforcing panels, the end onethird portions of said side wall panels are of the same height as the end wall panels. This construction provides an upstanding extension 75 at the inner or upper margin of each side wall panel for overlying engagement with the adjacent reinforcing panel 51.

Due to this arrangement, space is provided between the opposed side and end wall panels for a modified handle member which is divided by a longitudinal medial crease or score line 91 into a pair of identical, outer handle panels 92. Medial hand-hold openings or recesses 93 are formed in the handle panels 92 for registration upon folding of the handle member 90 upon its longitudinal crease line 91. Longitudinal slits or cut lines 76 separate the adjacent or inner margins of the extensions 75 and handle panels 92. The opposite end portion of each handle panel has a depending extension 9 which is separated from the inner margin of the adjacent end panel 81 by a longitudinal crease or score line 95. As shown by the numeral 96, the corners of the extensions 94 adjacent the recesses 93 are bevelled or chamfered for accommodating the upper end of glue flaps 65 which have complementary outer corners 66 and which are coextensive with and hinged to the outer end of the cross partition panels 52 by transverse crease or score lines 67.

Center partition panels or members 100, similar to the panels 40 and having a longitudinal dimension or length slightly greater than two-thirds the longitudinal dimension or length of the side Wall panels 71, are hinged by transverse crease or score lines 87 to the outer ends of the end wall panels 81. Each center panel 100 is of substantially the same height or transverse dimension as the cross partition and reinforcing panels 50, 51 and 52 as well as the medial portions of the side wall panels 71 so as to extend above the end wall panels 80 and 81 and the end portion of said side wall panels. For coacting with the handle extensions or panels 83 of the center partitionpanels or members 82, the panels 100 have handle extensions or panels 101 at their inner or upper margins hinged to the handle panels 92 and their depending extensions 94 by transverse crease or score lines 97 which are alined with and form continuations of the crease line 87. A longitudinal medial crease or score line 102 connects the handle extensions 101 to each other. Instead of the hand-hold openings 43, the ham dle extensions 101 are angular and have lateral portions 103 at their inner or upper margins spaced from the center panels 100. It is noted that the center partition panels 82 are identical to the panels 22 except that their handle extensions 83 have a slightly greater width or longitudinal dimension than the handle extensions 23. Transverse crease or score lines 84 connect the panels 82 to the end wall panels 80, and their extensions 83 are hinged together by a longitudinal medial crease or score line 85. As shown in Fig. 14, the depending handle extensions 94 overlie and are secured to the outer end portions of the center partition panels 100 for reinforcing the same.

Another modification of the bottle carrier is shown in Figs. and 16 and includes a blank 110 similar to the blank 70. The same bottom, cross partition, reinforcing, end wall, center partition and handle panels 31, 32, 50, 51, 52, 80, 81, 82, 83, 100 and 101 are employed in this modified construction. Instead of the side wall panels 71, the blank 110 has a pair of side wall panels 111 of the same transverse dimension or height as the end Wall panels 80 and 81. As a result, the cross partition and reinforcing panels 50, 51 and 52 project above the side wall panels when this modified carrier is erected. Transverse crease or score lines 112 and 113 connect the panels 111 to the panels 80 and 81, while one of said panels 111 is hinged to the inner panel 31 of the bottom wall member 30 by a longitudinal crease or score line 114. A modified handle member 120, similar to the handle member 90, is disposed between the opposed end and side wall panels 81 and 111 and is divided by a longitudinal medial crease or score line 121 into a pair of identical, outer handle panels 122. Medial hand-hold openings or recesses 123 are formed in the handle panels 122 for registration upon folding of the handle member 120 upon its longitudinal crease line 121, said panels having depending extensions 124 at their right-hand ends. It is pointed out that the extensions 124 are substantial- 1y identical to the extensions 94 and are separated from the inner margins of the adjacent end panels 81 by longitudinal crease or score lines 125. Bevelled or chamfered corners 126 are formed on the extensions adjacent the recesses 123 to accommodate the complementary outer corners 66 of the glue flaps 65. Transverse crease or score lines 127, which are alined with and form continuations of the transverse crease lines 87, connect the handle panels 122 and their depending extensions 124 to the handle extensions 101 of the center partition panels 100. As shown by the numeral 128, the handle panels have depending extensions at their left-hand end for overlying engagement with the center partition panels 82. The extensions 128 are of substantially the same width or longitudinal dimension as'the end wall panels 80 and 81 and project inwardly of or beneath the recesses 123. It is noted that these depending extensions are formed by the omission of the side wall extensions and are separated from the side wall panels by longitudinal crease or score lines 115. Due to this arrangement, both ends of the center partition are reinforced and the handle of the carrier is strengthened.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A compartmented bottle carrier formed from a single blank of sheet material including bottom, end and side walls, center and cross partitions, the center partition being continuous from end to end of the carrier and of greater height than the walls and cross partitions so as to project thereabove and provide a handle, an end panel hinged to each end of each side Wall and forming one-half of one of the end walls, center panels greater in each dimension than the end panels hinged to the adjacent edges of the end panels at one end of the carrier and having upstanding extensions and secured in face-to-face relationship to form said center partition and handle, a pair of spaced panels extending transversely between said center partition and each side wall and forming the cross partitions, one of each pair of transverse panels having its inner end hinged to the end of each center panel 0pposite its end panel connection, the other transverse panel of each pair having its inner end secured to the adjacent center panel, and a reinforcing panel hinged to the outer ends of each pair of transverse panels and secured in face-to-face relation to the medial portion of the adjacent side wall, the reinforcing and transverse panels being of substantially the same width as said end panels.

2. A compartmented bottle carrier as set forth in claim =1 wherein the transverse and reinforcing panels are of substantially the same height as the center partition below its handle and of greater height than the end and side walls so as to project above said panels, the medial portions of the side walls being of substantially the same height as said panels so as to overlie the outer surfaces of said reinforcing panels.

3. A compartmented bottle carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transverse and reinforcing panels are of greater height than the end and side walls so as to project thereabove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,661,140 Arneson Dec. 1, 1953 2,778,526 Forrer Jan. 22, 1957 2,813,658 Metzger Nov. 19, 1957 2,848,136 Ringler Aug. 19, 1958 

